NYSERDA Project Manager

Amanda StevensProject Manager, Environmental ResearchNew York State Energy Research and Development Authority17 Columbia Circle Albany, New York 12203-6399

Evaluate your community's flood risk with the Hudson River Flood Impact Decision Support System

The data, maps, and information in the Hudson River Flood Impact Decision Support System are provided to illustrate the scale of potential flooding in the Hudson River Valley under different sea level rise and storm scenarios. The information can help municipal and regional planners prepare for future floods.

The sea level rise scenarios available within the tool range from 0 to 6 feet above the base mean sea level of 1983-2001, a standard sea level used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Users can then choose from storm scenarios ranging from the 5-year to the 1000-year flood. Critical infrastructure such as transportation and emergency services can be viewed along with the flood maps, to identify those that could be vulnerable to flooding in the future.

A unique aspect of the information presented here is that it includes freshwater flowing from tributaries into the Hudson, in addition to tides, storm surges, and sea level rise. This means that it captures the effects of rainfall to the extent possible, which can be particularly significant in the upper parts of the Hudson, just below the Troy dam. However, it is important to note that tributary floodplains are not included in the modeling and mapping – the flood maps show only the Hudson River’s floodplain. The model used here is the same one used for the New York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS; http://stevens.edu/nyhops ).

Current projections from the updated ClimAID report still show great uncertainty in future rates of sea level rise, with projections for the year 2100 ranging from 1.25 to 6.25 feet near New York City. Tools such as this Hudson River Flood Impact Decision Support System can help plan even in the face of uncertainty.